Dec 28, 2015

St. Petersburg police say a 12-year-old boy stole a car Friday morning from an 89-year-old man.

Police say Raymond Raftery was driving his Toyota when the boy, who was on a bicycle, told him his tire was low on air. Raftery pulled up to an air pump and got out of the car, which is when police say the boy stole it.

“He was off the bike and in the car and gone within 20 seconds,” Raftery said. “It’s a surprise he even reached the pedals.”

The robbery happened at 11 a.m. in the area of 4890 22nd Ave. S and was captured on surveillance video.

A detective recognized the boy, who has been arrested more than 20 times. He was taken into custody Monday afternoon and charged with grand theft motor vehicle.

Raftery, who was not injured in the robbery, said he was caught completely off guard.

“Broad daylight, in a public place at 11 in the morning and a 12-year-old kid? No. Never even thought about it,” Raftery said
But it wasn’t a surprise to police once they recognized the boy. He was first arrested when he was just 10 years old and since then has faced 12 felony charges, including robbery and burglary.

In 2015, the boy was ordered to residential competency training in a non-secure setting in the community. But, according to 6th Judicial Circuit spokesperson Stephen Thompson, the boy didn’t cooperate with efforts to provide services to him while he was living in the community.

The boy has since been ordered to a secure residential facility. Thompson said the process for that was started with this latest arrest.